Bowling ball with thumb releasing device



H. W. FELLBERG BOWLING BALL WITH THUMB RELEASING DEVICE Aug. 19, 1969 Filed Nov. 29. 1967 Ali United States Patent 3,462,146 BOWLING BALL WITH THUMB RELEASING DEVICE Hans W. Fellberg, 103 Wisner Ave., Park Ridge, Ill. 60068 Filed Nov. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 686,579 Int. Cl. A63d /00 US. Cl. 273-63 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device associated with the thumb hole of a bowling ball, and reciprocally movable therein, to provide the thumb of a bowler with a firm grip prior to delivery or throwing of the ball, said device being provided with a tension spring which permits the thumb through frictional engagement with the device to raise same slightly outwardly of the surface of the ball at an angle away from the thumb as the ball is released and then snap the device back into the thumb hole to permit normal rolling of the ball.

Background of the invention The invention relates to bowling balls, and more particularly to a device for use in the thumb hole of the ball to allow the thumb to fully occupy the hole and firmly grip the ball and to enlarge the hole to prevent hanging up or sticking of the thumb in the hole as the ball is released.

In drilling finger holes in a bowling ball it is common practise to drill the thumb hole to a compromise dimension to permit ready withdrawal of the thumb as the ball is delivered. If the thumb hole is too large it will be difficult to acquire a firm grip on the ball with the result that the ball is apt to be dropped or thrown in an inaccurate manner. Conversely, if the thumb hole is too small, or drilled to substantially the dimensions of the thumb, the thumb will have a tendency to stick in the hole as the ball is thrown and prevent an accurate and smooth delivery thereof. Frictional properties exerted on the thumb are considerable when throwing the ball and they may vary due to perspiration, condensation, swelling of the thumb and foreign matter. Friction exerted when releasing the ball has a tendency to move the skin of the thumb and cause swelling and sticking of the thumb in the hole as the ball is released, resulting in lofting the ball and possible physical injury to the bowler.

A bowler experiencing these problems returns the ball for correction, which means enlarging the thumb hole to eliminate sticking of the thumb, only to create a new problem of poor ball retention and resultant dropping of the ball. Further corrections to eliminate this condition are impossible without plugging the thumb hole, which is objectionable to the purchaser of a new ball and, therefore, is rejected requiring the furnishing of a new ball to the purchaser and causing loss to the manufacturer and distributor. Since the thumb hole fit of the bowling ball is to be a compromise, the above cycle may well be repeated resulting in a very dissatisfied bowler, distributor and manufacturer.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device which eliminates the aforesaid problems and permits drilling of the thumb hole to exact dimensions with a minimum clearance without the necessity of considering release of the thumb from the ball, thereby drilling the thumb hole correctly the first and every time.

A further object of this invention is to provide an accessory for the thumb hole of a bowling ball which provides a snug and comfortable grip for the thumb as the ball is held prior to delivery and permits clearance for 3,462,146 Patented Aug. 19, 1969 ice the thumb as it is withdrawn from the hole upon delivering the ball.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a bowling ball equipped with my improved thumb release.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the invention in use with the thumb of the bowler raising the thumb releasing device.

FIG. 4 is a plan view looking down at the thumb hole along the line 44 of FIG. 2.

Description Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the invention is illustrated herein in connection with use with a bowling ball 10, which may be constructed of any suitable material, such as a dense hard plastic material. A thumb hole 11 is bored in the ball 10 along the axis 12 and finger holes 13 and 14 are arranged in a conventional manner adjacent the thumb hole 11.

In preparing the ball 10 to receive the thumb release device a second aperture 15 is drilled at one side and in communication with the thumb hole 11 and at an angle of about 5 to 18 to the axis 12 of thumb hole 11, and preferably about 10. A cylindrical plug 16 is inserted in the aperture 15, the plug being formed longitudinally with a concavity 22 opening toward said thumb hole, the remaining peripheral surface area of plug 16 being snugly disposed within the aperture 15 and mounted for yieldable reciprocation therein, as will be later described.

Member 16 is provided with an elongated slot 17 at one side thereof for the reception of a screw 18 which is threaded into the body of ball 10 to hold member 16 in retarded position within the ball. A compression spring 19 surrounds screw 18 and extends from the head thereof to a shoulder 20 provided at the base of slot 17. When member 16 is so associated with the ball the circular top thereof will be on the same plane as the surface of the ball and the concave side 22 will complement the hole 11 and progressively decrease the diameter of same inwardly of the ball to provide a snug fit for a bowlers thumb 21 when it is inserted into the hole.

Referring now to FIG. 3, when the thumb 21 is inserted into hole 11 the first joint thereof will contact the concave surface 22 of member 16 and frictionally engage same to insure a snug and comfortable grip on the ball prior to delivering same. As the ball is delivered onto a bowling alley the friction of the thumb pressing against member 16 will overcome the pressure of spring 19 and raise member 16 approximately one-quarter inch outwardly from the surface of the ball and at an obtuse angle to axis 12, thereby enlarging the hole and permitting easy withdrawal of the thumb therefrom, while still providing sufficient friction for control of the ball. As soon as the thumb is withdrawn from the hole spring 19 will snap member 16 back into the thumb hole prior to the ball reaching the bowling alley and provide a smooth spherical surface on which the ball may roll in a normal manner.

Although the above describes the manner of associating the plug 16 in the thumb hole of a bowling ball at the time the ball is being drilled to the dimensions of a bowlers hand grip, or to balls which had been previously drilled, it is also contemplated that the plug be installed in the ball at the time of manufacture. When so installed, plug 16 would be constructed in the manner above described and of the same material as the ball to blend with same. However, as it is the custom of manufacturers to provide their distributors with undrilled balls, the plug would not contain the concavity 22 when it is delivered to the distributor. At the time the distributor drills the ball to fit the grip of a bowler the center of the drill will be placed at the periphery of plug 12 and thumb hole 11 will be bored along the axis 12 at an angle desirable to the bowler. When so drilled the concavity 22 will be formed in plug 16 and in view of the spherical shape of the ball, it will be at an angle to axis 12 to provide the automatic thumb hole enlargement described above.

While I have shown and described the plug 16 as circular in shape and what I regard to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be appreciated that various changes, rearrangements and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bowling ball formed with a thumb hole and an intersecting aperture disposed at an angle to said thumb hole, said intersecting aperture opening laterally to said thumb hole, and a thumb releasing plug reciprocally disposed in said aperture and formed longitudinally with a concavity opening toward said thumb hole, and means for yieldably retaining said plug disposed within its aperture. 2. The bowling ball of claim 1 wherein the axis of the thumb hole is at an angle of about 10 to the axis of the intersecting aperture.

3. The bowling ball of claim 1 wherein the axis of the thumb hole is at an angle of about 5 to 18 to the axis of the intersecting aperture.

8/ 1960 Kunevicius. 6/1964 Coppola.

GEORGE J. MARLO, Primary Examiner 

